Are the Meiteis Back to the Age of Cannibalism? Various Incidents Suggest the Presence of Individuals Who Might Still Consumed Human Flesh

There has been a series of extremely disturbing images and video footage since two Kuki village volunteers were killed in Phailengmol Area of Saikul Sub-division (now Island), Kangpokpi district, on Saturday. The Meitei terrorists had proudly circulated videos and images in which they are seen cutting the bodies of the two innocent victims as never seen in India before. They also dragged the bodies, chopped off the limbs, and even the heads, and put up the hand on a tree, probably as a sign of victory.

In one such latest image which went viral on social media today, the lifeless body of one of the victims was shown lying on a dust-filled ground without hands, legs, head, and even a shirt, and a Meitei woman, possibly a member of the Meira Paibi, standing nearby supposedly pulling away cloth from the body.

Even after making fun of and treating the dead bodies of the two Kuki village guards in the most barbaric manner who made the supreme sacrifices at the hands of the Meitei terrorists, the families and the Kuki community were denied even basic human rights in mourning their deaths as the Meitei terrorists refused to return even the bodies.

For the tribals, most particularly the Kukis, it is extremely important to show utmost respect to the deaths even if it belongs to the enemies. However, for the Meitei/Meetei community who claims to have 2000 years of written history with their own scripts and highly modernised culture, the way in which such cruelty was committed did not end with the desecration of the dead bodies but goes much beyond. In the last two days, many of the Meiteis made distressing videos celebrating the death and desecration of the two bodies of the Kuki martyrs.

In one such video, a Meitei man was seen showing a big piece of meat from a pot which he claimed was the neck of one of the victims. After seeing this video, many wonder whether a section of the Meiteis really practice cannibalism!

Here, it may be worth recalling that back in 2015, three Meitei men were arrested by the police allegedly for cooking and eating the flesh of a fellow Meitei man. According to a police officer investigating the case, as reported by the local and national media, one W. Ramananda @Rouso (39) of Kontha Ahallup, Imphal, was arrested along with one Gopen and Naren, for allegedly murdering and cooking of the flesh of one person identified as Tomba of Kwakeithel Moirangpurel, for consumption.

Whereas W. Ramananda belongs to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Lallumba) outfit, Tomba allegedly belonged to the KCP (Nando) faction.

The news report which shocked the whole Manipur back then added that one Boimacha, who was instructed by W. Ramananda to kill Tomba got ill after consuming the cooked meat of the victim, and later succumbed to his illness.

Also, it is reported that, as per the confession made by the main culprit, W. Ramananda, all the 30 cadres of KCP(Lallumba) were given prior information before they all consumed the cooked human meat.

This horrible story, as per a report prepared by India Today, is one of the three rare cases of canabalism in Northeast India in the recent past. Yet, we can only imagine whether cannibalism still exists among the Meitei society based on this extremely disturbing story. And if cannibalism really exists among the Meiteis, it may be noted that it is not only a serious crime against humanity but one of the most horrible things to do in this civilised world.

Meanwhile, as the dead bodies are cut into pieces by the Meitei terrorists, and refused to return to the Kuki community for the last rite, it can only be guessed what might have been done to them. For the Kukis, it is always a tradition to allow the victim party to claim the bodies of they killed an enemy in the battlefield.

Since the outbreak of the current ethnic violence, there have been many instances of atrocities committed by the Meiteis against the minority Kuki-Zo community. The manner in which David Theik was killed in the most gruesome manner before his head was chopped off and hung on a pole; the way the 7-years old Tonsing was burnt alive in an ambulance along with his mother and aunt (both Meitei); how two Kuki women were paraded naked and later gang-raped; how the Meitei Women (Meira Paibis) handed over a Kuki woman to the Meitei boys to rape, and how their professors and intellectuals, including Dr. Bhagat Oinam and Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, openly defended such inhumane treatment in the national television channels, all compelled us to ask ourselves: are the Meiteis even worth calling human beings?

While the Kuki-Zo community is facing a serious threat to their existence fighting the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign, the Government of India seems to have turned its back. Similarly, their fellow Christian tribals in Manipur, particularly the Nagas, too, unfortunately choose to remain neutral. And even after more than 11 months, none of the Naga frontal organisations or respectable personalities, including the four candidates for the upcomingby  Lok Sabha elections, utter a word on the extreme cruelties faced by the Kukis in the hands of the dominant Meitei community and its government whom they once called "communal government".

In fact, for the community leaders and social elites within the Naga tribes, development funds and the two lakhs-odd Meitei votes for II-Outer Manipur constituency seems more important than the extreme hardship faced by their fellow Christian tribals in the hands of the dominant Hindu/Sanamahi community. Despite all these, the Kuki-Zo community wouldn't forget the generous help extended by many Nagas, including the Churches, in some cases even to the extent of risking their own lives. The same goes to the Muslims and few good souls among the Meiteis in the initial days of the violence.

Since the beginning of the violence, the only little hope the Kuki-Zo community had was on the neutral role played by the Indian Army. However, the alleged killing of the two Kuki village guards by the Bihar Regiment seriously affected the trust put on by the community. Now, for the Kukis, there is no alternative but to continue the fight against the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign to defend their ancestral land and freedom, or to die for it. Whether the Government of India and the International Community came forward to help them or not, the Kukis will keep fighting till the end.

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue no. 210, 15th April 2024).